Trump administration officials praised the visit as a move ‘in the right direction’, but analysts see it as evidence of China’s attempts to reassert its strength in Asia
Even as the White House hailed North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s surprising visit to China as a “positive sign” in a “right direction” ahead of a proposed summit in May with US President Donald Trump, regional experts said on Wednesday that the move reaffirmed China’s intent to play a significant role in any developments in the Korean Peninsula.
White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters during a press briefing that the US considers Kim’s trip to Beijing, during which he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, as a “good indication” that the “maximum pressure campaign” against Pyongyang through sanctions and military pressure “has been working”.
“We’re going to be cautiously optimistic but we feel like things are moving in the right direction,” Sanders said. Noting that the Beijing trip was Kim’s first trip outside North Korea since becoming its leader in 2011, she said, “we consider that to be a positive sign”.
China briefed the US earlier on Tuesday about the meeting between Xi and Kim in Beijing, the spokeswoman said.
The Chinese ambassador to the US, Cui Tiankai, came to the White House and briefed members of Trump’s national security team, who then briefed the president, she added.
Sanders did not disclose the details of a personal message from Xi to Trump delivered during the ambassador’s briefing. A representative at the president’s National Security Council did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Trump also appeared optimistic about his own proposed talks with Kim. He tweeted on Wednesday morning that he and Kim “look forward” to meeting each other.
The meeting between Trump and Kim, Sanders added, “is something of global importance and we want to make sure that it’s done as soon as we can, but we also want to make sure it’s done properly.
